Summer’s POV
A cold smile curved my lips. “Indeed, Ms. York. How observant of you to notice my wedding ring! I’ve been married for quite some time now, yet hardly anyone at the office has paid attention to it. You must have quite an eye for detail.”
I watched as the color drained from her face. She looked almost ghostly now, her perfectly made–up face unable to conceal her
shock.
“Are you sure you’re feeling alright, Ms. York?” 1 pressed, my voice dripping with false concern. ‘You look terribly pale. It would be such a shame if you fell ill on your very first day. That wouldn’t reflect well on Stark Group’s image, would it?”
“You…” she began, seemingly struggling to find words. I could practically see the thoughts racing behind her eyes–confusion, disbelief, perhaps even anger. Whatever information she’d been given about me clearly didn’t match the reality standing before her.
“Oh my, look at the time!” I exclaimed, glancing at my watch. “Chatting with you has been so distracting, I almost forgot I came up here to see Brandon about some urgent business. You’ll have to excuse me.”
Without waiting for her response, I stepped around her and headed toward Brandon’s office, the remains of my shattered cookies clutched in one hand. I could feel her eyes boring into my back as I walked away.
Standing outside Brandon’s office door, I took a deep breath and tried to steady my nerves. My heart was still racing from the encounter with Lyanna. Seeing her–seeing us–side by side had been jarring in a way I hadn’t anticipated. Brandon had warned me about her return, but he’d conveniently left out the part where we could practically be twins.
I knocked on the door, more firmly than usual.
“Who is it?” Brandon’s voice called from inside.
“Brandon, it’s me! Summer from the project department!” I called back, my voice sounding unnaturally formal even to my own ears
“Come in!”
I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Brandon was at his desk, absorbed in some document. When he looked up and saw me, he immediately set down his pen and rose to his feet. His eyes fell to the crushed cookie bag in my hands, and his brow furrowed slightly.
“What brings you up here?” he asked, then his expression shifted as he read something in my face. “You’ve met her.”
It wasn’t a question.
I remained standing just inside the doorway, not moving closer when he approached. When he reached for me, I took a deliberate step back. His hand hung awkwardly in the air for a moment before dropping to his side.
“Are you here to question me?” he asked quietly, resignation in his voice.
“Should I be?” I countered, my voice cooler than I intended.
Brandon sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You’re upset. I get it. But think about it–right now, I’m clearly in the wrong here. Doesn’t that give you the upper hand? Why not take advantage of that?”
I almost laughed at his attempt to lighten the mood. Instead, I held out the crushed bag of cookies.
1/3
Chapter 339
These were for you, I said flatly. “They’re yours to eat, even if they broken now.‘
Brandon took the bag, looking town at the crumbled contents. ‘What happened?
I bumped into your ex–fiancée. Literally. I crossed my arms over my chest. “Why didn’t you tell me that we look exactly alike, Brandon?”
When he didn’t immediately answer, I felt something crack inside me “Brandon, answer me!
“What kind of answer are you looking for?” he asked, his voice measured. “Yes, there’s a resemblance between you two, but you’re not identical. Not by a long shot.”
His eyes locked with mine, uiflinching. “Why not just ask what you really want to know? Did I marry you because you look like her? Because you were a convenient replacement when she wasn’t available?
I felt my throat tighten. That was exactly the question burning inside me, the fear that had taken root the moment I’d seen her face.
“I thought I made myself clear, yesterday,” Brandon continued. “I told you not to believe anything anyone else says. Remember?”
“What about what you say?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper “Can I believe that?”
“Do you trust me?”
I stared at him, caught off guard by his directness. “I don’t know how to answer that question. What I need to know is whether you married me just for me–not because I reminded you of someone else.”
The corner of Brandon’s mouth lifted in a slight smile. “Just for you. Only for you.”
I wanted to believe him. God, how I wanted to believe him.
“Fine,” I said finally. “I’ll trust you on this. But if this is a lie, make it a lifetime one. If you can’t keep up the pretense forever, just tell me the truth now. I’m not the type to cling to someone who doesn’t want me. You know that, right?”
“I know,” he said simply.
I nodded and turned to leave, but Brandon caught my arm.
“Everyone seems to think you two are identical,” he said softly. “What about you? Do you see yourself in her?”
I met his gaze steadily. “No.”
“Exactly,” he replied, his grip on my arm relaxing. “You should know. Summer–I would never compromise myself for anyone. If I had felt anything for Lyanna, I wouldn’t have married you or stayed with you all this time. You’re not a replacement for anyone. And no one could ever replace you.”
“You’d better remember what you said today,” I warned him, though the ice in my voice was beginning to thaw.
“I will,” he promised. “For the rest of my life. Some things can’t be seen with your eyes–they need to be felt with your heart.”
“I’ll try,” I told him honestly. “But I’m only human, Brandon. Don’t lie to me.”
Outside Brandon’s office, I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. The encounter with Lyanna, followed by the confrontation with Brandon, had left me emotionally drained. I needed a moment to compose myself before heading back to my own department.
2/3
Chapter 339
Deep breath in. Deep breath out.
I’d handled things better than I’d expected. No tears, no shouting, no emotional breakdown. I’d stood my ground and spoken my mind. Yet the image of Lyanna face–so eerily similar to my own–gered in my thoughts.
We’re not the same person, I reminded myself firmly. I am Summer. She is Lyanna. And Brandon chose me.
With one final deep breath, I pushed myself away from the wall and headed toward the elevators. Whatever game William Stark was playing by bringing Lyanna back, I wasn’t about to let it break what Brandon and I had built together.
As the elevator doors closed, I caught a glimpse of Lyanna watching me from down the hallway, her expression unreadable. I straightened my shoulders and held her gaze until the doors slid shut between us.
The battle lines had been drawn. And I had no intention of retreating
Chapter Comments
LIKE
